Beginning Tuesday, the Delhi Metro is going to levy a fine of `200 on men who are caught travelling in the women’s only coaches, a service that had been initiated on October 2. Since the service was started, there have been many complaints about men continuing to travel in the coaches exclusively designated for women. There have also been reports of heated arguments taking place between the commuters on this issue.
According to the Delhi Metro, mobile checking squads would be deployed to ensure that the rule was being properly followed. Random checking would be carried out and those not following the rules would be penalised.
“A fine of `200 can be imposed for every violation with effect from October 26 by the DMRC in case any male passenger is found travelling in the reserved ladies’ coach of Metro train,” said a DMRC spokesman.
Every mobile squad will consist of four to five persons including security personnel. Children up to 12 years of age, accompanying the lady passengers, are, however, allowed to travel in the reserved coach.
So far, mobile squads have imposed penalty on 8,195 passengers for committing various offences such as defacing Metro property, drunkenness, nuisance and spitting, besides other offences in Delhi Metro.
In the 22 days since this facility has been in operation, the complaint of men travelling in women’s only coaches have been surfacing every now and then. While most of them argue that it is on account of overcrowding, as the coaches are all inter-linked, the women have complained that a lot of men do it deliberately. When women ask them to move into the general coaches, the male commuters have often been seen indulging in heated arguments.